The Raq'uettes were founded in 2012 when two dancers, Naja Haje and Feridem from Raqs Devadasi Troupe decided they were going to do a comedy duet.  Names had been toyed with and discarded, until Naja Haje mentioned "The Raq'uettes" as a joke.  It stuck.

​

The Raq'uettes made their debut at the Delaware Drum and Dance Hafla in September of 2012 at Mojo's on Main Street in Newark, DE.  Their first piece was choreographed by Naja Haje and fine tuned by their first instructor, Dinah Kirby.  The music was El Kalam Ala Meen and while the rhythm was Beladi-style the choreograph was written to mimic Saidi.  In place of the traditional Assaya, or cane, Naja Haje and Feridem could be seen sporting a rag mop and a toilet plunger.  The problem with putting these two in a duet together, however, became readily apparent as Feridem seemed to spend more time hitting Naja Haje with her mop than concentrating on her dance.  In contrast, Naja Haje couldn't seem to stay on her feet and wound up dusting the floor with her pert bottom more than once.  In the end chaos reigned as the two of them began to fight it out.